Visitor Information

Welcome to Silver Spring United Methodist Church! We have a proud tradition of serving the Silver Spring community for over 135 years. We are an inclusive congregation where everyone is welcome. We reflect the many hues of God’s people as a community rich in age, nationality, gender, race and cultural diversity. We invite you to join us for worship and to find out more about us.

What to Expect in Sunday morning Worship

Weekly worship is the touchstone of our congregation. People at Silver Spring UMC enjoy seeing old friends and welcoming new ones as we gather to worship God. Our services follow a traditional pattern—welcome, music, children’s message, prayers, Bible readings, sermon, more music, offering, blessing. The 9:30 service is led by a praise band while 11am service usually includes music from our chancel choir.

Our music is as diverse as our multi-cultural congregation and you will hear everything from a classical organ prelude to a Taize refrain to a contemporary gospel choir anthem. Our Lead Pastor Rev. Angela preaches Biblical and relevant sermons. Prayer time often includes sharing joys and concerns from the congregation and contemplative singing.

What about kids?

Our children have a special place in worship—we have a children’s message just about every Sunday of the year, and on the first Sunday of the month the children (ages 4 and up) stay in the worship service, rather than going to Sunday school, for our Everybody Worships! Sundays. We have Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month at the 11am service and every week at the 9:30 service. All are welcome to receive communion—we practice an open table for all people of all ages.

How should I dress?

We welcome you to come as you are to worship. People wear everything from suits to blue jeans, although most people choose a modest “business casual” style of dress for worship. Summers are more casual—sometimes we even wear flip-flops!—but temperatures in our sanctuary sometimes vary widely so we encourage you to dress in layers.

Do I need to put something in the offering plate?

We encourage everyone to fill out an attendance card and put it in the offering plate because your presence in worship is a gift that you offer to God and to the gathered community. Most of our active members give financial gifts as well, but we do not expect visitors to contribute financially unless you are so moved.

Directions

Sunday worship is at 8900 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. From the I-495 Beltway, take Exit 31 – Georgia Ave (MD-97), south toward Silver Spring. The church is 1 mile south on the right. Turn right onto Ballard St. and then into the parking lot. From Washington, D.C., take Georgia Ave north, through downtown Silver Spring. The church is half a mile north of the intersection between Colesville Rd. (MD-29) and Georgia Ave. Turn left onto Ballard St. and then into the parking lot.

Walking map. Click for full size.

From the Metro: Take the red line to Silver Spring station. Use the north exit to exit the station. Walk north along Colesville Rd., toward the AFI Movie Theater and the tall Discovery Channel building (though they will be on the other side of Colesville Rd.). When you reach Georgia Ave, turn left and walk north along Georgia (there will be trees in the median of the road) 0.5 miles until you reach the church on the left.

From Buses: Most buses deposit at or near the Discovery Channel building. Make your may north along Colesville Rd. or Georgia Ave. until you reach their intersection. Then walk north on Georgia (there will be trees in the median of the road) 0.5 miles until you reach the church on the left.